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Memphis Business Journal, by Samuel X. Cicci  “The arts are forever changed,” says Rouse, president and CEO of ArtsMemphis.  Picture the life of an artist. Are you envisioning a solitary studio, a creative type who looks like they could probably use a sandwich, someone working with great intensity to bring to life a vision that may or may not lead to a payday? Yes, working in the arts is a labor of love, and yes, the pandemic was tough on the arts industry. But al... Read More

Commercial Appeal ArtsMemphis has announced new leadership and appointees to the board of directors as well as a new chief financial officer. Kathy Gale Uhlhorn, who has volunteered with ArtsMemphis since 2006, is now chair of the board of directors, and Dr. Russ Wigginton, president and chief executive officer of the National Civil Rights Museum, is serving as vice chair. Kera Wright, senior vice president of Finance for St. Jude Children’s Rese... Read More

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - The arts are back in Memphis. But the last 18 months amid the pandemic have been trying for many artists. “It was a frustrating time, honestly,” said musician Michael Mosby. Pre-pandemic, Mosby spent most of his time playing the drums for live events all across the city. But live events canceled, and venues closed meant very few gigs. That’s why ArtsMemphis stepped up to help after a more than $20 million loss in income among local arts organizatio... Read More

Memphis Flyer, Jon W. Sparks — ArtsMemphis has awarded $900,000 to 45 arts organizations for operating support and another $70,650 to 26 groups through the Arts Build Communities (ABC) grant program. The operating support grants have long been central to ArtsMemphis’ mission of helping to grow a sustainable arts community. The unrestricted funding comes from local individuals, foundations and corporations, the Tennessee Arts Commission, and the National Endowment for t... Read More

Memphis Business Journal, Corey Davis — A brush of uncertainty still surrounds the local arts community, despite some improvement from the pandemic's effects. ArtsMemphis — the Mid-South’s main arts funder, supporting both artists and local arts organizations — is set to launch another round of its Artist Emergency Fund. Artist assistance Elizabeth Rouse, president and CEO of ArtsMemphis, said the organization will start distributing funds to all types of ... Read More

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Local24 ArtsMemphis has awarded 45 arts organizations $900,000 dollars through its Operating Support grant.  Of the awarded organizations, 40% are led by a person of color and 58% serve participants who are a majority people of color.  “We know how critical unrestricted operating support is to shape a sustainable arts community,” ArtsMemphis President & CEO Elizabeth Rouse said. “We are committed to continuing to carry these organi... Read More

MEMPHIS—This week, ArtsMemphis has announced a new round of grant distributions totaling close to $1 million, introduced new Board leadership and appointees, welcomed a new Chief Financial Officer, and released new data on the state of the arts. New Grant Distributions ArtsMemphis has granted $2.2 million this past year to 64 arts organizations and hundreds of artists. Today, additional funding totaling just under $1 million has been announced through ArtsMemphis’ Operating Supp... Read More

By Peggy Burch, Daily Memphian | Published May 18, 2021   Nonprofit arts organizations hunkered down after the pandemic preyed on their budgets last year. Elizabeth Rouse, president and CEO at ArtsMemphis, delivered some grim numbers from a poll of 50 of those groups as 2020 ended. “They collectively report a $20 million loss in 2020 compared to the year prior,” she said. “From a jobs perspective, about 44% of their workforce experienced layoffs or furlough. That&rsqu... Read More

This article was published by Americans for the Arts in the Spring 20221 issue of Arts Link magazine.   As we enter the second year of life with COVID-19, the impact of this past year can still be felt in every corner of our lives. Work was disrupted; loved ones lost; and a 24-hour news cycle inundated us with political upheaval, the murder of Black Americans, and racist attacks on Asian Americans. The facts of the coronavirus and institutional racism forced deeper examin... Read More

Memphis Business Journal Guest Column: Bo Allen – President, First Horizon-West Tennessee | Published April 22, 2021 Memphis has a reputation for its grit, grind, and its unrivaled generosity — all of which, I believe, has shaped Memphis’ distinctive culture. Our intrinsic desire to give and give back continues to cultivate a pipeline of talent and ideas. At First Horizon, we hold a strong belief that in order for us to be successful, the communities in which we serve must... Read More